Hand loom

ABSTRACT

A loom that includes a first elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces; a second elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces parallel to and spaced from the first beam; a first transverse roller having a first longitudinal axis rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams; a second transverse roller having a second longitudinal axis parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams; each transverse roller having a peripheral surface formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller; and a disk-shaped thumb wheel having a textured peripheral edge surface fixed to each roller with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the roller.

RELATED CASES

Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/881,003 which was filed on Jan. 18, 2007 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to a loom of simplified design which can be operated by a user in a small setting, for example, on a table or on the user's lap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art shows a number of loom constructions. Examples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,166,415 to Lervad; 4,103,715 to Harris and 6,453,951 to Kuwabara. Many of the past looms are rather complicated in construction and are thus difficult to operate. Other looms are limited in the size of the fabric that can be woven. Still others require a constant re-positioning of the user in order to continue with the weaving process. Still further looms do not provide an easy way to manipulate the loom action, nor a ready way to maintain warp thread spacing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and yet simplified hand loom that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of prior loom constructions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand loom that is relatively simple in construction and can thus be easily operated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand loom that enables the weaving of longer fabrics.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand loom in which the warp threads can be moved end-wise of the loom so that the elongate material in the form of weft can be introduced for the weaving process always at the same location, preferably, intermediate the ends of the loom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand loom that has the ability to produce two separate woven fabric items simultaneously on opposite sides of the loom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are some of the features of the hand loom of the present invention:

-   -   the warp on the loom forms a continuous loop of elongate         material (that is, yarn, string, thread, and the like) allowing         a longer fabric item to be produced, that is, as long as two         lengths of the loom rather than merely the length of the loom,         as can be achieved conventionally;     -   the warp can be moved end-wise of the loom so that the elongate         material in the form of weft can be introduced for the weaving         process always at the same location, preferably, intermediate         the ends of the loom;     -   operation of the loom does not impose friction on the elongate         material (warp or weft) resulting in a high quality fabric end         product;     -   the ability to produce two separate woven fabric items         simultaneously on opposite sides of the loom.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hand loom that comprises:

a first elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces;

a second elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces parallel to and spaced from the first beam;

a first transverse roller having a first longitudinal axis rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams;

a second transverse roller having a second longitudinal axis parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams;

each transverse roller having a peripheral surface formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller;

a disk-shaped thumb wheel having a textured peripheral edge surface fixed to each roller with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the roller, portions of the textured edge surface of each thumb wheel projecting beyond the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the beams enabling rotation of the thumb wheel caused by a user applying tangential frictional force to the textured edge surface to also rotate the associated roller;

enabling warp threads to be produced by tying an end of elongate material to itself after drawing the elongate material over the top plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the first roller adjacent the first beam and drawing it to the bottom plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the second roller adjacent and parallel to the first beam, such length of elongate material being an initial warp loop, then to and around a second groove of the first roller adjacent the first groove, then to and around a second groove of the second roller adjacent the first groove, and continuing the process to successive adjacent grooves, then tying an end of the elongate material to itself after partially encircling a last groove of the second roller adjacent the second beam, this final length of elongate material being a final warp loop, such that the entire region between the initial warp loop and the final warp loop is occupied by a plurality of generally parallel loops of the elongate material; and

then, with a location intermediate the first and second rollers as a point of entry, enabling weft threads to be produced by weaving elongate material as a first weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads toward and substantially perpendicular to the second beam, then back as a second weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads adjacent the first weft thread to the first beam, and continuing the process again and again until a resultant woven fabric of desired size results in an upper plane of the loom generally aligned with the upper surfaces of the first and second beams;

rotation of the thumb wheel for the first roller effecting movement of the woven fabric in the direction of the first roller to retain the point of entry of each successive weft thread substantially intermediate the first and second rollers and enabling the woven fabric, as it is produced, to proceed over the first roller to a lower plane of the loom generally aligned with the lower surfaces of the first and second beams.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the hand loom may be further characterized by:

the first roller has first and second ends;

the second roller has first and second ends;

wherein the first beam includes:

a first leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end;

a second leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and

fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition; and

wherein the second beam includes:

a first leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end;

a second leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and

fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition;

whereby a variety of sizes of fabric can be woven on the loom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the present invention are now realized in accordance with the present invention by the detailed description that follows when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a size non-adjustable loom embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is side elevation view of the loom illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B is an end elevation view of the loom illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 an enlarged detail end elevation view of the loom as illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a size adjustable loom embodying the present invention and illustrating its retracted condition;

FIG. 3A is side elevation view of the loom illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the size adjustable loom illustrated in FIG. 3 but illustrating its extended condition;

FIG. 4A is side elevation view of the loom illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a portion of the loom of FIGS. 3 and 4 and depicting an initial step of introducing the warp for producing a woven fabric;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another portion of the loom of FIGS. 3 and 4 and depicting a final step of introducing the warp for producing a woven fabric;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating still another portion of the loom of FIGS. 3 and 4 and depicting an initial step of introducing the weft for producing a woven fabric;

FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating generally the same portion of the loom illustrated in FIG. 7 and depicting a continuing series of operations for producing a woven fabric; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an end portion of the loom of FIGS. 3 and 4 on which a fabric has been woven and further illustrating the use of bottom and top loom portions to produce a longer fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Refer initially to FIGS. 1, 1A, and 1B which illustrate a loom 20, embodying the invention, for producing a woven fabric 22 diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms or embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.

The loom 20 is size-non-adjustable and includes a first elongated beam 24 having upper and lower surfaces 26, 28 and a second elongated beam 30 having upper and lower surfaces 32, 34 parallel to and spaced from the first beam 24. A first transverse roller 36 has a first longitudinal axis 38 and is rotatably mounted on and extends between the first and second beams 24, 30. In similar fashion, a second transverse roller 40 has a second longitudinal axis 42 and is parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller 36. The roller 40 is also rotatably mounted on and extends between the first and second beams 24, 30, respectively. Viewing FIG. 2, each transverse roller 36, 40 has a peripheral surface 44 formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves 46, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller. A disk-shaped thumb wheel 48 having a textured peripheral edge surface 50 is fixed to each roller 36, 40 with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis 38, 42 of the roller. As seen in FIG. 1A, portions 52 of the textured edge surface 50 of each thumb wheel 48 project beyond the planes of the upper surfaces 26, 32 of the beams and the lower surfaces 28, 34 of the beams. This construction enables rotation of each thumb wheel 48 caused by a user applying tangential frictional force to the textured edge surface as indicated by arrows 54 in FIG. 1A so as to also rotate the associated roller therewith. As depicted in FIG. 1 there are preferably thumb wheels 48 at each end of each roller 36, 40. In an alternate embodiment only one roller 48 may be fixed to an end of each roller 36, 40.

Turn now to FIGS. 3 and 3A for another embodiment of the invention, which is a size-adjustable loom 20A. The first roller 36, unchanged from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 1A, has first and second ends 56, 58 and, in similar fashion, the second roller 40 has first and second ends 60, 62. A first beam 24A, modified from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 1A, includes a first leg 64 including a mounting end 66 to which the first end 56 of the first roller 36 is rotatably mounted and an extension end 68. Similarly, a second leg 70 includes a mounting end 72 to which the first end 60 of the second roller 40 is rotatably mounted and an extension end 74. Fastening members 76 are used to releasably fix the extension end 68 of the first leg 64 to the extension end 74 of the second leg 70 over a range of lengths of the first beam 24A between a retracted condition and an extended condition. The second beam 30A includes a first leg 78 including a mounting end 80 to which the second end 58 of the first roller 36 is rotatably mounted and an extension end 82. The second beam 30A also includes a second leg 84 including a mounting end 86 to which the second end 62 of the second roller 40 is rotatably mounted and an extension end 88. As with the first beam 24A, fastening members 76 are used to releasably fix the extension end 82 of the first leg 78 to the extension end 88 of the second leg 84 over a range of lengths of the second beam 30A between a retracted condition and an extended condition.

The fastening members 76 are illustrated to be bolts 90 which are received in any of a plurality of longitudinally and similarly spaced laterally extending bores 92 matingly provided in the legs 64, 70, 78, and 84, then secured by the nuts 94. While bolts 90, bores 92 and nuts 94 are described and illustrated, the invention is not limited to this form of fastening but may use any of a variety of other fastening expedients which enable an extendable loom 20A to assume a range of lengths between a retracted condition as seen in FIGS. 3 and 3A and an extended condition as seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A. Of course, any intermediate lengths can be achieved and it will be appreciated that, in each instance, the length employed for the beam 24A must be the same as the length employed for the beam 30A. In this manner, a variety of sizes of fabric can be woven on the loom.

While the loom 20 is adequate for producing woven fabric 22, loom 20A is preferable for producing a greater variety of sizes of articles of woven fabric. Hence, all further description of the operation of the invention will be with respect to loom 20A and all further drawings will illustrate loom 20A. At the outset of operation of the loom 20A, a user decides upon the length and width of the woven fabric project. By way of example, and not restrictive of the invention, the loom 20A can adjust to create a fabric project as large as 8″ wide×44″ long (22″ on each side of loom). The first and second beams 24A, 30A must be adjusted to accommodate the length of the desired fabric project. By way of illustration, FIG. 1 depicts warp threads 95 that extend lengthwise of the loom 20A, or parallel to the beams 24A, 30A. Turning now to FIG. 5, an end of elongate material 96 (variously thread, yarn, string, or any other suitable filament-type material) is tied to itself as seen at knot 98 after drawing it from a source 100, such as a ball of yarn. The thread or yarn 96 extends over the top plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove 99 of the first roller 36 adjacent the first beam 24A, to and around the bottom plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the second roller (not seen in FIG. 5) adjacent and parallel to the first beam. Such length of the elongate material is an initial warp loop 101.

In keeping with the earlier decision by the user on the length and width of the fabric project, it is noted that the first groove 99 need not be immediately adjacent the first beam 24A, but that “adjacent” may be understood to be several grooves spaced from beam 24A, depending on the width chosen for the specific article of the woven fabric project. The weaving operation continues, drawing the elongate material 96 then to and around a second groove 102 of the first roller 36 adjacent the first groove 99, then to and partially encircling a second groove of the second roller adjacent the first groove, and continuing the process to successive adjacent grooves, then, as seen in FIG. 6, tying an end of the elongate material to itself as indicated by a knot 104 after partially encircling a last groove of the second roller adjacent the second beam 30A (not seen in FIG. 6). This final length of elongate material is a final warp loop 106, such that the entire region between the initial warp loop 101 and the final warp loop 106 is occupied by a plurality of generally parallel loops of the elongate material, all as clearly seen in FIG. 6.

Then, turning now to FIG. 7, the user chooses a location 108 preferably intermediate the first and second rollers 36, 40 (neither seen in FIG. 7) as a point of entry and weft threads 109 are produced by the user weaving elongate material as a first weft thread 110 successively over and under the parallel warp threads 95 toward and substantially perpendicular to the second beam 30A (not seen in FIG. 7). In FIG. 7, the weft thread 110 actually is woven successively over and under pairs of warp threads. The number of warp threads 95 over and under which the weft threads 109 successively weave is chosen by the user and does not have any effect on the scope of the invention. Upon reaching the final warp loop, the advance of the weft thread is reversed and then continues back as a second weft thread successively under and over the parallel warp threads immediately adjacent the first weft thread to the first beam. This process continues again and again as seen successively in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 until a resultant woven fabric 22 of desired size as seen in FIG. 12 results in an upper plane of the loom generally aligned with the upper surfaces of the first and second beams.

Rotation of the thumb wheel 48 for the first roller 36 effects movement of the woven fabric in the direction of the first roller (as earlier explained with the aid of arrows 54 in FIG. 1A) to retain the point of entry of each successive weft thread substantially intermediate the first and second rollers 36A, 40A. Rotation of the thumb wheel 48 also enables the woven fabric 22, as it is produced, to proceed over the first roller to a lower plane of the loom generally aligned with the lower surfaces 28A, 34A of the first and second beams 24A, 30A, respectively. In this way, a final woven fabric 22 can be produced as long as approximately two lengths of the loom 20A.

When the fabric project is completed, the ends of each of the warp threads 95 beyond the last weft thread are severed and appropriately tied in a known manner to prevent the fabric 22 from unraveling.

Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are anticipated as falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the transverse rollers have been described as rotatably supported from the beams. This support may take on many different forms including supporting each end of the roller in a bearing surface of some type defined in the beam. 

1. A loom comprising: a first elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces; a second elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces parallel to and spaced from the first beam; a first transverse roller having a first longitudinal axis rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams; a second transverse roller having a second longitudinal axis parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams; each transverse roller having a peripheral surface formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller; a disk-shaped thumb wheel having a textured peripheral edge surface fixed to each roller with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the roller, portions of the textured edge surface of each thumb wheel projecting beyond the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the beams enabling rotation of the thumb wheel caused by a user applying tangential frictional force to the textured edge surface to also rotate the associated roller; enabling warp threads to be produced by tying an end of elongate material to itself after drawing the elongate material over the top plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the first roller adjacent the first beam and drawing it to the bottom plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the second roller adjacent and parallel to the first beam, such length of elongate material being an initial warp loop, then to and around a second groove of the first roller adjacent the first groove, then to and around a second groove of the second roller adjacent the first groove, and continuing the process to successive adjacent grooves, then tying an end of the elongate material to itself after partially encircling a last groove of the second roller adjacent the second beam, this final length of elongate material being a final warp loop, such that the entire region between the initial warp loop and the final warp loop is occupied by a plurality of generally parallel loops of the elongate material; and then, with a location intermediate the first and second rollers as a point of entry, enabling weft threads to be produced by weaving elongate material as a first weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads toward and substantially perpendicular to the second beam, then back as a second weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads adjacent the first weft thread to the first beam, and continuing the process again and again until a resultant woven fabric of desired size results in an upper plane of the loom generally aligned with the upper surfaces of the first and second beams; rotation of the thumb wheel for the first roller effecting movement of the woven fabric in the direction of the first roller to retain the point of entry of each successive weft thread substantially intermediate the first and second rollers and enabling the woven fabric, as it is produced, to proceed over the first roller to a lower plane of the loom generally aligned with the lower surfaces of the first and second beams.
 2. A loom as set forth in claim 1: wherein the first roller has first and second ends; wherein the second roller has first and second ends; wherein the first beam includes: a first leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; a second leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition; and wherein the second beam includes: a first leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; a second leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition; whereby a variety of sizes of fabric can be woven on the loom.
 3. A loom as set forth in claim 2: wherein each extension end has a series of holes disposed therealong with each hole dimensioned to receive a fastening member therethrough.
 4. A loom as set forth in claim 3: wherein each hole of the series of holes is equally spaced from hole to hole.
 5. A loom as set forth in claim 4: wherein each fastening member comprises a bolt and nut.
 6. A loom as set forth in claim 1: wherein the annular grooves in the roller are all equally spaced from one to an adjacent one thereof.
 7. A loom as set forth in claim 1: wherein there are separate disk-shaped thumb wheels, one at each end of each roller.
 8. A loom comprising: a first elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces; a second elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces; said first and second elongated beams being constructed and arranged so that the second elongated beam is disposed in parallel to and spaced from the first elongated beam; a first transverse roller having a first longitudinal axis; means for rotatably mounting the first transverse roller on and extending between the first and second elongated beams and at a first mounting end thereof; a second transverse roller having a second longitudinal axis; means for rotatably mounted the second transverse roller on and extending between the first and second elongated beams and at a second opposite mounting end thereof; said first and second transverse rollers being constructed and arranged so that the second transverse roller is disposed in parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller; each transverse roller having a peripheral surface formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller; at least one disk-shaped thumb wheel having a textured peripheral edge surface and fixed to each roller with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the roller, portions of the textured edge surface of each thumb wheel projecting beyond the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the beams enabling rotation of the thumb wheel caused by a user applying tangential frictional force to the textured edge surface to also rotate the associated roller.
 9. A loom as set forth in claim 8: wherein the first roller has first and second ends; wherein the second roller has first and second ends; wherein the first elongated beam includes: a first leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; a second leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition.
 10. A loom as set forth in claim 9: wherein the second beam includes: a first leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; a second leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition; whereby a variety of sizes of fabric can be woven on the loom.
 11. A loom as set forth in claim 10: wherein each extension end has a series of holes disposed therealong with each hole dimensioned to receive a fastening member therethrough.
 12. A loom as set forth in claim 11: wherein each hole of the series of holes is equally spaced from hole to hole.
 13. A loom as set forth in claim 12: wherein each fastening member comprises a bolt and nut.
 14. A loom as set forth in claim 8: wherein the annular grooves in the roller are all equally spaced from one to an adjacent one thereof.
 15. A loom as set forth in claim 8: wherein there are separate disk-shaped thumb wheels, one at each end of each roller.
 16. A method of using the loom of claim 8 including: enabling warp threads to be produced by tying an end of elongate material to itself after drawing the elongate material over the top plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the first roller adjacent the first beam and drawing it to the bottom plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the second roller adjacent and parallel to the first beam, such length of elongate material being an initial warp loop, then to and around a second groove of the first roller adjacent the first groove, then to and around a second groove of the second roller adjacent the first groove, and continuing the process to successive adjacent grooves, then tying an end of the elongate material to itself after partially encircling a last groove of the second roller adjacent the second beam, this final length of elongate material being a final warp loop, such that the entire region between the initial warp loop and the final warp loop is occupied by a plurality of generally parallel loops of the elongate material.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including: then, with a location intermediate the first and second rollers as a point of entry, enabling weft threads to be produced by weaving elongate material as a first weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads toward and substantially perpendicular to the second beam, then back as a second weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads adjacent the first weft thread to the first beam, and continuing the process again and again until a resultant woven fabric of desired size results in an upper plane of the loom generally aligned with the upper surfaces of the first and second beams.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 17 including: rotation of the thumb wheel for the first roller effecting movement of the woven fabric in the direction of the first roller to retain the point of entry of each successive weft thread substantially intermediate the first and second rollers and enabling the woven fabric, as it is produced, to proceed over the first roller to a lower plane of the loom generally aligned with the lower surfaces of the first and second beams. 